From office lights switched off to out-of-service lifts, Indonesian civil servants are feeling the pinch after President Prabowo Subianto ordered sweeping budget cuts across government that he said will fund his big-ticket campaign pledges.

Many government offices in the capital Jakarta are now turning their lights and air conditioners off immediately when the work day ends at 4 pm, leaving some employees trying to finish projects after hours at dimly lit desks, while others are being encouraged to work from home to save on energy costs.

The tightening of ministerial belts comes after Prabowo in late January ordered cuts to save 306.7 trillion rupiah ($18.8 billion) on office spending, ceremonies and business trips.

The order left ministries scrambling and some officials in the dark, with analysts saying the sudden move was likely to shift funds to programmes like a $4.3 billion free meal plan for schoolkids and a new sovereign wealth fund.

"Can you imagine working in the office, only your room is lit, everything else is off?" a 35-year-old civil servant told AFP.

"There's no sound. It's really dead silent. It makes a different atmosphere."

Patrolling guards have also begun switching off electronic devices after work hours, following an........

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